Method and apparatus for handling photoprints



April 12 1927.

e. DYE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PHOTOPRINTS Filed Aug. 25, 19242 Sheets-Shoe? 1 M n Tm n ND E 0. v T u NW N mm 5 w m N\ Y Q R @1 w\ kwa. a. M, Q. L Q11 mw N b M a N A i a //IW///M// 3N L/ T \N o Q. \N 5 m\\R m hN MN x Apnl 12, 7- G. M DYE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLINGPHOTOPRINTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.25, 1924 R. Y. m M N E H E Y o v0 W N. Wm M l v 6 a W m& \N MN W V MM M Q Aw a Q H um HQ $1 he .& mmm NN. a l a a q\\\ M AN Q Nwm k N NM Q MN Q a Patented A r; 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES GLEN M. DYE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ?HQTOPBINTS.

Application filed August 25, 1824. SerialNo. 733,987.

greatly -from day to day and week to week.

In certain periods during the summer the volume-will be large and atother periods the volume will be. quite small. It is difficult for thedeveloping and printing establishment, therefore, to properly regulatethe number of employee for handling the work. If a sufficient force ismaintained to handle the work during a week of large volume the sameforce will not be kept busy during a week when the volume oi business issmall and the establishment will thus have a heavy pay roll for which itreceives no return, It

is quite a' desideratum therefore to provide an automatic or mechanicalmeans for handling the prints during the developing, fixing and. washingstage as well as during the dry ing or glazing stage, With such amechanical means, once the developing and printing establishment hasinvested in the same, it can take care of a large or small volume ofhusinesswithout any change in itsoperat ing force. The invention alsohas great util-- ity in regular commercial studio establishments wherelarge quantity production is desired, especially Where a large number ofprints are made from one'plate or film. 0

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a method bymeans of which the photographic rinsed. fixed and washed while beingprogressed through a machine and without the help of any considerablenumber of operators.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method consisting inprogressing the prints, face up, on a conveyor and sucrcssively sprayingon said'prints, develop ing, rinsing. fixing and washing solutions. thesaid solutions being kept separate and separately collected after beingused.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a method consistingin supporting the prints face up upon a stationary prints can be-developed,

member and successively lifting, progressing and. depositing the printsthereon, said prints and said member being simultaneously andsuccessively sprayed with developing, rinsing, fixing and washingsolutions.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method offinishing photographic prints which consists in progressing the sameface up, successively spraying thereon, developing, rinsing, fixing andwashing solutions and in continuing said progression to the receivingmeans of a print drying or print drying and glazing device,

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an apparatusfor finishing photographic prints which comprises a conveyor on whichthe prints are disposed face upward and progressively moved havingthereabove a plurality of means for successively spraying on the printsdeveloping, rinsing, fixing and washing solutions.

It is still further an ohject of the invention to provide a printfinishing apparatus com-- prising a stationary member having a sur facefor supporting the prints itace upward together with means forsuccessively lifting, advancing and depositing the prints on saidsurface, and means shove said surface for successively spraying on saidprints and surface developing, rinsing, fining and washing solutions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a print finishingapparstus comprising a plate adapted to support the prints thereon faceupward and having a plurality of apertures therethrough and a platedisposed beneath said plate substantially par allelthereto having meansprojecting upward therefrom adapted to be projected through saidapertures, together with means for transmitting motion in a curved pathto said last mentioned plate to cause said means to move throligh saidapertures successively to lift and advance and deposit said plates onsaid surface. 7 1 It is still another object. of the invention toprovide an apparatus, as set forth in the previous paragraph, in whichthe last mentioned plate has a plurality of discharge apertures fordischarging the various fluids, both of said plates preferably beinginclined upwardly whereby .the fluids will drain downwardly thereon,together with receptacles for receiving the various fluids.

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It is still further an object of the invention to have such an apparatusas above set forth delivering the prints to a conveyor whichconveniently may be the receiving conveyor of a drying or drying andglazing machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the different views, and in which.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus for carrying out themethod of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said apparatus; i

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig.1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a partial View in plan of a print sup orting plate;

ig. 6 is a partial plan view of the conveyor plate; and

Fig. 7 is also a partial plan view of the print supporting plate, Figs.3 to 7 being shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus is shown comprising a framehaving spaced vertical members 8, horizontal members 9 and upwardlyinclined longitudinally spaced members 10. Supported by the longitudinalmembers 10 and extending lengthwise of the apparatus in an upwardlyinclined position is a print supporting plate 11 conveniently carried byspaced members 12 secured to the members 10. The plate 11, as clearlyshown in Fig, 3, has vertically extending side portions, thus forming ineffect a trough and said member also has rows of spaced elongated slotsor apertures 13 extending therethrough throughout substantially itsentire length. As shown in Fig. 1, said plate is divided into differentzones by short downwardly extending portions 14. In the first zone.which is at the lower end of the device, said plate is provided with anopening extending some distance longitudinally thereof which istraversed by spaced wires 15, the spaces between said wires extendinglongitudinally in alinement with the slots 13. Disposed below the plate11 and extending substantially parallel thereto is another plate 16.'The plate 16 is divided into a plurality of zones or sections and theadjacent ends of these sections are preferably offset, as shown at 17 inFigs. 1 and 4. The portions 17 correspond substantially to the zonedefining portions 14 in the plate 11. It will be noticed. as shown inFig. 4. that the forward ends of the sections of plate 16 are slightlyupturned. The plate 16 is impcrforate and has projecting upwardlytherefrom series of rows of pins 18, which pins are centrally alinedwith and spaced similarly to the slots 13 in the plate 11 so that thesaid pins may be projected through the slots 13, the pins being ofsomewhat smaller diameter than the width of said slots. The plate 16 hasdepending ears 19 at each side thereof, adjacent the ofi'sct portions oropenings 17, which ears receive crank p'ns projecting inwardly fromcrank disks 20, said crank disks being supported upon shafts 21journaled in bearings secured to the top of the frame members 10, whichshafts are driven by a series of chains 22 running over sprocketssecured to said shafts. The shaft 21 at the lower end of the plate isdriven by a chain 23 running over a sprocket secured to a jack shaft 24journaled in bearings supported on a pair of the frame members 9, whichjack shaft is, in turn, driven by a chain 25 running over a sprocketthereon and over a sprocket secured to a suitable driving motor 26illustrated as of the electrical type, which motor is convenientlysupported on the horizontal members 9 of the frame. A conveyor 27 issupported on bearings secured to the frame members 10 and adapted toreceive prints from the upper end of the plate 11.

Disposed above each zone of the print supporting plate 11 is a sprayingdevice. said device being designated 28, 29, 30 and 31, respectively.Each of said spraying devices comprises a conduit extendinglongitudinally at one side of the plate 11 and substantially paralleltherewith, which conduit has a plurality of conduits or pipes 32extending at right anglestherefrom and across the plate 11 above thesame. Each of the pipes 32 is provided with a controlling valve 32adjacent the conduit to which it is secured and each of said pipes isprovided with a ilurality of perforations on its underside. he sprayingdcvice 28 is supplied with liquid through pipe 33 having a valve 31therein, which pipe communicates with a container 35, the pipe 33communicating with the longitudinal conduit of sprayer 23. Receptacle 35also has a pipe 38 communicating therewith and extending downwardly tothe outlet of a pump 37 illustrated as of the rotary type. The inletside of pump 37 communicates through a pipe 38 with a rcceptacle or tank39 so disposed that it receivcs any liquid flowing down ovcr the lowersect on of plate 16. The pump 37 conveniently is driven by a chain 40running over a sprocket on its 0 icrating shaft and over a sprocket onthe ack shaft 24. The tank 39 and container are adapted to containdeveloping fluid, which fluid is sprayed by the spraying members 23. Thespraying member 29 is adapted to spray Water andhas its longitudinallyextending lUO conduit supplied by a pipe ll equipped with I supplied bya pipe 43 equipped with a valve 44-.

The pipe 13 communicates at its upper end with a container 45.Containers 35 and l5 are surrounded by tanks 60 and 61, respectively,adapted to receive cooling water, and which also contain pipes 62 and bywhich a temperature regulating medium, such as steam may be supplied toregulate the temperature of the liquids in said containers. Thecontainer 45 also has a pipe 46 communicating therewith and extendingdownward to the discharge outlet of a pump l? also shown as of therotary type and as having its inlet end connected by a pipe 48 with atank 49. The pump 47 conveniently is driven by a chain 57 running over asprocket on its operating shaft and over a sprocket on the jack shaft24-. The tank 49 is adapted to receive liquid flowing down anddischarged from the lower end of the lowest section but three of plate16. The pipes 38 and 48 are each equipped with a valve controlled drainpipe 50 which may be connected to the sewer or other convenientdischarge means. A tank 51 is also provided adapted to receive theliquid flowing down and discharging from the lowest section but one ofplate 16, said tank having a discharge pipe 42 connected thereto whichmay direct the liquid from said tank into a sewer or other suitablesink. The spray device 31 has its longitudinally extending conduitsupplied by a pipe 53 having a controlling valve 54- therein, which pipewill be connected to any suitable water supply. such as the ordinarycity supply line. A tank 55 is provided adapted to receive from theupper section of plate 16, which tank is also provided with a dischargepipe 56 leading to the sewer or other suitable discharge location.

Preferably, the tanks 39 and 49 have strainers 58 disposed adjacenttheir tops onto which the liquid discharged into said 'anks is received.

In carrying out the method of the invention by the use of the apparatusdisclosed, power will be supplied to the jack shaft 24 through motor 26and pumps 37 and 47 will be driven. The shafts 21 will also be driven ateach side of the machine and rotary motion imparted to the cranks 2t)successively from said shat't through the chains 22. The plate 16 willthus be given a rotary motion in a closed curved path, as indicated bythe dotted circle I) in Fig. 4. The upper end of each pin 18 will thusbe carried upwardly into and partly through its corresponding aperture13 and will then be withdrawn downwardly through said aperture. Theproper developingfiuid will be supplied in container 35, the properwater connections made to pipes l-l and 53 and a firing solutionsupplied in container 35. The valves in the pipes 33, d1, 43 and 53'will now be opened, as will also be valves 32. The operator will bepositioned atthe lowerend of the apparatus and will lay prints whichhave just been 4 printed' onto the lower end oi. plate .11. These plateswill be immediately deluged with the developing fluid dischargeddownwardly from the pipes 32 of sprayer 28. As

the plate 16 is moved and the pins projected upward through plate 11 theprints will be lifted on the tops of these pins and carried forwardlythereby. As the pins recede downwardly through the openings the printswill again be deposited on the surface of plate 11. This action iscontinuously repeated and the prints are progressively advanced upwardon plate 11, being lifted and laid down repeatedly. The pins 18 alsoproject upwardly between the wires 15 and lift and carry the printsupwardly along said wires in the same manner. The operator will watchthe prints as they develop. The image thereon comes up and if necessary,will lift the prints from the wires 15 and again place them on the plate11 at a lower point. The wires 15 are provided tor convenience inpicking up the prints. T he operator can place'his fingers beneath thewires and readily engage the print by the edge. It the prints werepicked up by passing the fingers through the slots 13 the operator wouldbe in danger of having his fingers pinched by the pins 18. By thusretarding some of the prints and advancing others necessary the printsare all'brought to the proper stage of development as they pass throughthe lower zone of plate 11. The developing fluid runs through the plate11 down onto the plate 16, it being noted that the lower end of plate 11is upturned to prevent any fluid running oil its lower edge. Thedeveloping fluid runs down plate 16 and oil the lower end thereof intotank 35 which extends some distance rearward of said edge. The fluidruns through the strainer 57 where any dirt, paper lint or other foreignmatter is strained therefrom. From the tanlc 39 the fluids are againraised and delivered to tank 35 by the pump 37. The developingoperation, thcrcdore is com tinuously carried on and the operator onlywill have to place the prints on the lower edge of the plate 11 andpossibly to retard or advance some of the prints. The prints will beprinted 21 certain time, in accordance with the density of the film, sothat with the vast majority of prints no adjustment on the plate 11 willbe necessary. The speed of the plate 16 will be properly regulated llllto give the desired developing efieet. One or more of the pipes 32 canalso be thrown out of operation, if desired, by manipulation of thevalve 32. The prints thus ad vance on the plate 11 ,and will next besprayed by the water issuing from the pipes 32 of-sprayer 29 so that thedeveloping fluid 'side of the print. By repeatedly lifting the print,and laying it down on the fluid on top of plate 11, the thorough washingof the print is insured and the water is applied to both sides thereof.The rinsing water passes through plate 11 and drains off of the secondsection of plate 16 into tank 51, from which it is directed through thepipe 52. The print continues to advance on plate 11 and then comes underthe spraying, device 30 which deluges the print with a fixing solution.This fixing solution runs through the plate 11 and drains from the-thirdsection of plate 16 into the tank 49. In entering tank 49 it passesthrough one of the strainers 58 so that any dirt, paper lint or other"foreign material is strained therefrom.

From the tank 19 the fixing solution is again raised to containerthrough pipe 46 by the pump 47 so that the dischargeof the fixingsolution from the spraying device 30 is continuous. The developing andfixing solutions may, of course, be replenished when exhausted bydraining the tanks 39 and 49 by means of the pipes 50 and supplying anew batch of solution to containers 35 and thatlfluid could run from onezone to the next lower zone on such a pr'int. By the time the printreaches the first spray pipe above portion 14 it is in position to shedwater downwardly on the inclined portion 14 or is altogether past saidportion. The

print now advances on plate 11 and comes under the washing sprayer 31and is thoroughly washed by the water issuing from the pipes 32 thereof.The washing water gets on both sides of the print owin to the fact thatthe print is repeatedly liited and deposited on plate 11. The washingliquid drains down the upper section of plate 16 into tank from which itis discharged through pipe 56. The print is discharged upwardly otl theedge of plate 11 and discharged onto the conveyor 27. Conveyor 27 may bethe receiving conveyor of any suitable drying apparatus which may takethe form of that disclosed in applicants prior Patent 1,277,202, grantedAugust 27, 1918, or it may take the form of a print drying and glazingapparatus disclosed in the co-pending application of James W. Passman,filed December 5th, 1923, S. N. 678,697 assigned to the Pakocorporation, of which applicant is the president.

In the above described method and operation, therefore, the print iscontinuously advanced and successively sprayed by the developing,rinsing, fixing and washing fluids. These fluids being separatelycollected and prevented from any intermingling, the prints finally beingdischarged directly onto the drying apparatus.

From the above descrl tion it is seen that applicant has provide a veryeflicient method and apparatus for mechanically handling and finishingphotographic prints. The apparatus can be run at different speeds andhas a capacity for handlin a very large number of prints. The mac inemay also be made in various widths, according to the capacity desired.With such an installation, a print finishing establishment canconveniently handle a varying volume gt business without taking onadditional elp. y

The entire action of the apparatus after a print of normal exposure hasbeen placed thereon is automatic and the prints need not be handled bythe operator until after the same are ready for sorting and delivery tothe customer. The parts of the machine are comparatively few and simple.The machine is easily made and installed and requires practically noattention for maintenance. The apparatus has been thoroughlydemonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful andetlicient.

The expression face upward in the claims is to be taken as including anyprint with its image side disposed away from the conveyor or supportingmemberwhether the print is in flat or inclined position.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts and in thevarious ste s of the method without departing from the scope ofapplicants invention which, generally stated, consists ina method andapparatus ca able of carrying out the objects above set orth,

such as shown and described and defined in the appended claims.

\Vhat is claimed is: l. The method of finishing separate out Slit photoprints which comprises progressing said prints face upward on aconveyor, and successively spraying on said prints developing andrinsing fluids. w

2. The method of finishing photo prints which comprises progressing saidprints face upward on conveyor, successively spraying on said printsdeveloping, rinsing, fixing and washing fluids and separately collectingsaid tiuids after engagement with said prints and conveyor.

The method of finishing phct. prints which consists in intermittentlysupporting and progressing said irints face upward upon a stationarymember, and successively spraying on said prints developing, rinsing,liking and Washing solutions while supported and progressed on saidmember.

4. The method set forth in claim 3, with the added step of separatelycollecting said fluids and preventing any intermingling thereof. 4

5. The method of handling photo prints which consists in placing saidprints face upward upon a stationary support, successively lifting,advancing and depositing said prints upon said support, andsuccessivelyspraying upon said rints and support, developing, rinsing, King andWashing fluids whereby said prints are contacted on both sides by saidfluids.

(l. The process of finishing separate out photo prints which consists inprogressing said prints face upward, successively bringing said printsinto contact with developing, rinsing, lining and washing tluids,'anddelivering said prints to a drying ap mratus.

7. An apparatus for handling photo prints having in combination, aconveyor for supporting and intermittently advancing said prints faceupward, and means for spraying a developing fluid on said prints.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, and means for subsequentlyspraying said prints with a rinsing fluid while supported andintermittently progressed on said conveyor.

9. An apparatus for handling separate out photo prints having incombination, a convcyor for supporting and advancing: said prints faceupward, means above said conveyor for spraying a developing fluid onsaid prints, means for successively spraying a rinsing fluid on saidprints, and means beyond said last mentioned means in the direction ofadvance of said print for spraying a fixing solution on said prints.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, and means for spraying a washingfluid on said prints subsequently to the spraying-of said last mentionedmeans.

11. An apparatus for finishing photographic prints having incombination, means for supporting a print face upward, means forsuccessively lifting, advancing and depositing said prints on saidmeans, and

means for spraying a developing fluid on said prints and first mentionedmeans.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11, and means for subsequentlyspraying a rinsing solution on said prints While still supported onfirst mentioned means and advanced by said second. mentioned .rneans.

13. The structure set forth in claim 11, and means for subsequentlysuccessively spraying on said prints while still supported and advancedfixing and washing solutions.

An apparatus for finishing photographic prints having in combination, a

member on which said prints are supported and progressed face upward,means above said member for successively spraying on said printsdeveloping, rinsing, tiring and Washing solutions, and meansco-operating with said member for separately collecting said fluids andpreventing intermingling thereof.

An apparatus for finishingphotographic prints comprising .a stationaryplate adapted to support a print face upward thereon havingelongatedspaced apertures therethrough, a platehelow saidplate having pinsprojecting upwardly therefrom alined with and spaced similarly" to saidapertures, means for moving said last mentioned plate in a closed "pathto. project said pins through said apertures to engage, lift, advanceand deposit said: prints successively on said first mentioned plate, andmeans for successively spraying a; plurality} of fluids on said printsand first mentioned plate.

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, said last mentioned platehaving a discharge lltl lOtl

means for each of said fluids, means for. 4

straining said fluids, and means for reps rately collecting said fluids.

17. An apparatus for finishing photo prints having in combination, anupwardly inclined plate adapted to support prints and having; spacedapertures therethrough, a plate beneath said plate substantiallyparallel thereto and carrying means spaced similarly to said aperturesand adapted to be projected therethrough, means for moving said lastmentioned plate for projecting; said means through said aperturessuccessively and lifting, advancing and depositing; said prints on saidfirst mentioned plate, means extending across said first mentioned platefor'successively' sprayinga plurality of fluids on said prints and firstmentioned plate, said second mentioned plate having openingstherethrough for discharging each fluid separately.

18. A. print treating apparatus having in combination, meansforsupportiug and u lvancing a print face upwardly, a plurality ofspaced means for successively s n-trying; developing, rinsing, fixingand washing fluids respectively on said prints in said first mentionedmeans, means for separately collecting fluids and means, adapted todeliver the prints to a drying mec ianism, for receiving the prints fromsaid first mentioned means.

An apparatus for finishing photo prints having in combination, astationary member 'on which a print is supported face upward, means forsuccessively raising, advancing and depositing said print on saidmember, means for successively spraying said print with developing andrinsing fluids.

20. The structure set forth in claim 19, and means for subsequently andsuccessively spraying on said print fixing and washing lluids,.and meansfor separately collecting all of said fluids.

ill. An apparatus for finishing photo prints having in combination, astationary member having a surface adapted to support a print faceupward and having rows of apertures therethrough, a member beneath saidmember movable in an endless path having means thereon projectingthrough said apertures and engaging, lifting, advancing and depositingsaid prints successively on said surface, and means for successivelyspraying said prints and surface with a plurality of ditlerent'fluids.

An apparatus for finishing photo prints havin in combination, anupwardly inclined pertorated platehaving a surface adapted to support aprint, means for repcatedly lifting and advancing said print along saidplate, a liquid container supported above said plate,=a spraying devicedisposed over said plate for spraying said liquid on said print andplate and connected to said container, control means for said sprayer, atank into which said sprayed liquid is received, and means for returningsaid liquid from the tank to said container.

23. An apparatus for finishing photo prints having in combination anupwardly inclined perforated plate, said plate being divided into aplurality of zones, a liquid sprayer device for each zone disposed oversaid plate, means for advancing a print on said plate, control means forsaid Sprayers. and means for receiving the sprayed liquids.

24. The structure set forth in claim 23, said first mentioned meanscomprising a plate beneath said first mentioned plate and havingcorresponding zones and a discharge means for each zone, and adapted toreceive the s 'irayed liquidfrom said first mentioned plate and directthe same to said receiving means.-

25. A print developing machine having in combination, a frame, a motorthereon, a jack shaft driven from said motor, a pump driven from saidjack shaft, a tank connected to the inlet of said pump, a liquidcontainer connected to the outlet of said pump, an upwardly inclinedplate on said frame, means for lifting and advancing a print upwardly onsaid plate, a sprayer disposed over said plate and connected to saidcontainer, said tank receiving the sprayed liquid.

26. The structure set forth in claim 25, and means for regulating thetemperature of the liquid in said container.

27. The method of finishing a photo print, which consists in supportinga print wholly by gravity on a surface, intermittently litting saidprint from and advancing the print along said surface, and successivelyspraying said print with a plurality of finishing fluids.

28. The method of finishing photo prints which comprises progressingsaid prints face upward on a conveyor, and successively spraying on saidprints developing, rinsing, fixing and washing fluids.

29. The method of handling separate cut photo prints which consists insupporting said prints, face upward, on a member, successively liftingsaid prinlsfrom and advancing the same relatively to and depositing theprints on said member, and successively spraying on said prints andmember a pinrality of print treating liquids.

30. An apparatus for treating separate cut photo prints having incombination, a member on which said prints are supported. face upward,and movable means for repeatedly lifting said prints from said member,advancing the same relatively to said member and again depositing thesame on said member, and means for successively spraying on said printsand member a plurality ol print treating liquids.

31. An apparatus for handling photo prints having, in combination, aperforated plate, said plate being divided into a plurality of zones, aliquid spraying device disnosed respectively over said zones, means foradvancing a print on said late, and means for separately receiving tieliquids sprayed from said sprayin devices.

In testimony whereof I a x my signature.

GLEN M. DYE.

